Gardai kept busy over the Halloween with 100 complaints

By Denise McNamara

Gardaí responded to over 100 complaints about bonfires and ‘bush’ drinking but there were very few public order incidents or arrests over the weekend.

South Park in the Claddagh and McGrath’s Field in Knocknacarra were both overrun by drinkers and fires on Halloween Night, leading to calls for greater community policing of the bye-laws.

Cllr Catherine Connolly, chairwoman of the Environment Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), said cutbacks in litter management and failure by the gardaí to enforce drinking bye-laws is leading to the most serious health and safety problems and reducing the amenity for other law abiding users.

Even though South Park is a very special amenity area given to the city by the Carnagie Trust, it is being used as a drinking venue by people of various ages and the mess left behind is simply dreadful.“Again on Halloween Sunday Night, crowds of young people openly walked down to South Park and lit a number of bonfires. I immediately drew it to the attention of the Gardai,” she said.

“However when I checked the site on Monday morning one of four fires was still smouldering and the shore including the cycle path were littered with bottles, broken glass and debris.”

The independent councillor said the scene at the play facilities at McGrath’s field in Knocknacarra on Sunday Night was “simply appalling”.

“There were droves of young people clearly drinking in public and misusing the play facilities. The gardaí and fire brigade had to be called because of the wanton vandalism to the playground.”Councillor Connolly said it was high time for gardaí to enforce the drink bye-laws which allow them to both confiscate and destroy drink consumed in public.

“It is ironic that the Garda Siochana themselves highlighted the need for such bye-laws but they appear not to be enforcing them even though city councillors went to great efforts to bring them in two years ago.”

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.